- The Future Founders Conference for Women aims to create a platform for successful women to share their stories and advice.
- Many female founders waste time overthinking when to start a company instead of just getting started.
- Y Combinator's motto is "make something people want" and it is important to solve the most pressing problems.
- The speaker, a black woman in her forties, felt overwhelmed initially at Y Combinator due to the differences in backgrounds and experiences.
- There is no one model of a startup founder, and diversity is important in entrepreneurship.
- Building one's own brand and having conviction and representation are crucial for success.
- There is never a perfect moment to start a company, but determination is key.
- Founder life is challenging, with both highs and lows, but it is possible to overcome obstacles.
- It is important to seek support from other female founders and learn from their experiences.
- Being a mom is seen as a strength, and it is possible to balance parenting and entrepreneurship.
- Women work hard and should consider building their own companies rather than working for others.
- The speaker's company has raised $30 million, which is rare for black women.
- The goal is to create more successful entrepreneurs and cherish every day in this journey.
- Collaboration and support from trusted individuals are important in the entrepreneurial journey.
- Life is short, so take care of loved ones, try new things, and prioritize happiness.

The Future Founders Conference took place on November 18, 2020 and was a virtual event for women who aspire to become startup founders. Participants learned from inspiring, successful entrepreneurial women about launching and building a startup.

https://blog.ycombinator.com/future-founders-conference-for-women-globally/

We are all excited to have you here at our very first Future Founders Conference for Women.

We believe that creating a platform where successful women can share their stories and advice is 1 way to bring about even more successful women-led businesses.

have told me they wasted too much time thinking about when to start a company instead of just getting started.

The very fact you're sitting and listening in this conference means you have the ambition to be a founder.

And I know you're there right behind this glass screen.

Y Combinator's motto is make something people want.

What is the most important problem right now and how are you going to solve it?

Most people who are resourced are solving problems that are important to them.

And those just aren't the problems that are important to me as a black woman, who's a mom in her forties.

When I first went to YAC, it was really overwhelming.

We were joking earlier that I came in a minivan in Birkenstocks and shoes, and it was all these young dudes who were like, I froze a brain and I have a whole product.

And I was like, yeah, we have an idea and we're trying to figure stuff out.

There's not just 1 model of a startup founder.

It has been really inspiring and critical for me to remember that I'm standing on shoulders, that I'm not the first Canadian-American Black woman to co-found an organization or a company.

I saw a lot of different leadership styles at Google.

And then eventually, like, decided to, like, take the pieces that worked and assemble my own style.

I think too many women forget to build their own brand.

And I think this is really important because it gives you that conviction and that voice and sort of this representation that I represent this idea, this product, this competence.

You're never going to be ready, and there is never a perfect moment to start a company.

But if you have an idea and a great founder, you should start 1.

The most important quality is determination.

Because if you have any success at all, it's going to be at least a decade of your life.

I don't think anything ever prepares you for founder life.

I work until my daughter, my date role gets up.

Man, there's so many really high highs and then really low lows.

There have been people who have said crazy things to me over the years.

I mean things like, oh but I think you're too small to be a founder.

I eventually learned like, okay there's always going to

My dentist found 6 cracked teeth all from grinding at night.

He says, this is like, this is due to stress.

Like who gets 6 cracked teeth from stress?

So mostly I get negative feedback every day.

But I want you to look at me and trust that it's possible to overcome all of it.

I think it's about the commitment to make the time investment to work until the work is done.

I just had to learn a lot of things on the job and probably the most helpful thing was just talking to other female founders.

Life doesn't stop just because you're stressed out doing the hardest thing you've ever done before.

And I think we have to reject that notion that we don't get to be good parents.

And we are creating a place where your whole self is welcome at work.

Most women I know work harder than anyone else I've met.

So to all of you in this group, you're working so hard anyway.

Why do you want to rent your time to someone else?

If you're building value for others anyway, why not freaking do it for yourself?

We've raised, you know, between us probably $30 million.

Very few black women have raised $30 million.

Our obligation is to create more folks like this and then to recognize and cherish every day we get to do this.

Something magical happens when we are just working with people we trust and we love because this journey is impossible to do alone.

And never do anything that makes you unhappy.


Speaker 0: We are all excited to have you here at our very first Future Founders Conference for Women. We believe that creating a platform where successful women can share their stories and advice is 1 way to bring about even more successful women-led businesses. Too many female founders

Speaker 1: have told me they wasted too much time thinking about when to start a company instead of just getting started. The very fact you're sitting and listening in this conference means you have the ambition to be a founder.

Speaker 2: And I know you're there right behind this glass screen. So go do it. And we've got your back.

Speaker 3: Y Combinator's motto is make something people want. What is the most important problem right now and how are you going to solve it?

Speaker 0: Most people who are resourced are solving problems that are important to them. And those just aren't the problems that are important to me as a black woman, who's a mom in her forties. When I first went to YAC, it was really overwhelming. We were joking earlier that I came in a minivan in Birkenstocks and shoes, and it was all these young dudes who were like, I froze a brain and I have a whole product. And I was like, yeah, we have an idea and we're trying to figure stuff out.

Speaker 3: There's not just 1 model of a startup founder.

Speaker 4: We don't look like the typical team. We're also a majority women of color. It has been really inspiring and critical for me to remember that I'm standing on shoulders, that I'm not the first Canadian-American Black woman to co-found an organization or a company.

Speaker 5: I saw a lot of different leadership styles at Google. I tried them on. I found that they did not fit. And then eventually, like, decided to, like, take the pieces that worked and assemble my own style.

Speaker 6: I think too many women forget to build their own brand. And I think this is really important because it gives you that conviction and that voice and sort of this representation that I represent this idea, this product, this competence.

Speaker 1: You're never going to be ready, and there is never a perfect moment to start a company. But if you have an idea and a great founder, you should start 1.

Speaker 3: The most important quality is determination.

Speaker 2: Because if you have any success at all, it's going to be at least a decade of your life.

Speaker 5: I don't think anything ever prepares you for founder life.

Speaker 0: Like I want to be transparent. I get up at 4am. I work until my daughter, my date role gets up.

Speaker 5: Man, there's so many really high highs and then really low lows.

Speaker 2: There have been people who have said crazy things to me over the years. I mean things like, oh but I think you're too small to be a founder.

Speaker 5: I eventually learned like, okay there's always going to

Speaker 0: be a hair on fire problem.

Speaker 2: My dentist found 6 cracked teeth all from grinding at night. He says, this is like, this is due to stress. Like who gets 6 cracked teeth from stress? So mostly I get negative feedback every day. But I want you to look at me and trust that it's possible to overcome all of it.

Speaker 3: Starting a startup is an optimistic act.

Speaker 4: I think it's about the commitment to make the time investment to work until the work is done.

Speaker 5: I just had to learn a lot of things on the job and probably the most helpful thing was just talking to other female founders.

Speaker 0: Rose, did you make it through the day? I did okay today. Okay, good job.

Speaker 2: Life doesn't stop just because you're stressed out doing the hardest thing you've ever done before.

Speaker 0: I think of being a mom as a strength. And I think we have to reject that notion that we don't get to be good parents. No, we should be good parents. And we are creating a place where your whole self is welcome at work.

Speaker 1: Most women I know work harder than anyone else I've met. So to all of you in this group, you're working so hard anyway. Why do you want to rent your time to someone else? Why not do it for your own company?

Speaker 6: If you're building value for others anyway, why not freaking do it for yourself?

Speaker 0: We've raised, you know, between us probably $30 million. Very few black women have raised $30 million. Our obligation is not to be stressed. Our obligation is to create more folks like this and then to recognize and cherish every day we get to do this.

Speaker 2: Something magical happens when we are just working with people we trust and we love because this journey is impossible to do alone. Life is short. Take care of the ones you love. Don't be afraid to try new things. And never do anything that makes you unhappy.

See all Y Combinator transcripts on Youtube

Future Founders Conference for Women Globally